6 Pitches

[ValpoCory]

I think I could watch the first 6 pitches of the Bottom of the 7th inning of Game 5 of the 2017 World Series every day for the rest of my life and never get sick of it.  I've pretty much done it for 3 months.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWj-du7Zlp0

Can't think of a better way to spend 8 and a half minutes.  I'm a much happier person after each watching.

[JimR]

Hardly any Void for me this year because I have watched highlights and complete postseason games so often.

[Jacksonian]

I think I could watch the first 6 pitches of the Bottom of the 7th inning of Game 5 of the 2017 World Series every day for the rest of my life and never get sick of it.  I've pretty much done it for 3 months.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWj-du7Zlp0

Can't think of a better way to spend 8 and a half minutes.  I'm a much happier person after each watching.

[singsong]High fly ball, good bye,[/singsong]

That's about as good as Buck gets.

[chuck]

[singsong]High fly ball, good bye,[/singsong]

That's about as good as Buck gets.

I like it when Buck says goodbye, too.

[JimR]

Smoltz: “That train driver is in overdrive.”

[toddthebod]

Thanks for sharing.  Made my day so much better watching that again.  I could watch Correa's fist pump over and over again.  Pure jubilation.  I just wish that there had been a camera on him the whole way as he headed down the first base line.  Felt like a Carlton Fisk moment.  But it was uncaptured. 

[JimR]

Thanks for sharing.  Made my day so much better watching that again.  I could watch Correa's fist pump over and over again.  Pure jubilation.  I just wish that there had been a camera on him the whole way as he headed down the first base line.  Felt like a Carlton Fisk moment.  But it was uncaptured.

It is in that clip, I think. I have seen it a million times.

[astrojo]

I will never get tired of watching this highlight. Not ever.

[JimR]

I will never get tired of watching this highlight. Not ever.

The bottom of the 5th ain’t bad either.

[doyce7]

The bottom of the 5th ain’t bad either.

For me it's yulis homer in the 4th

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[JimR]

For me it's yulis homer in the 4th

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Like that one too! Brought us back from the dead.

[doyce7]

Like that one too! Brought us back from the dead.

Im not a fan of buck doing baseball but, that "GURRRRIEEEEEEL HAS... TIED IT" call is absolutely beautiful.

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[JimR]

Im not a fan of buck doing baseball but, that "GURRRRIEEEEEEL HAS... TIED IT" call is absolutely beautiful.

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Before that half inning started, I told Mark I was not angry or upset, just SO disappointed. I said “I thought this was going to be a great game, but we are going down without a whimper.”

[doyce7]

Before that half inning started, I told Mark I was not angry or upset, just SO disappointed. I said “I thought this was going to be a great game, but we are going down without a whimper.”

The first 3.5 innings were so deflating. For all the great moments of the postseason, this one brought me the most elation, if only because of how bleak things had looked.

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[JimR]

The first 3.5 innings were so deflating. For all the great moments of the postseason, this one brought me the most elation, if only because of how bleak things had looked.

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Agreed. I thought we were done with Kershaw pitching.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

I'm not sure how many times I've watched the 4th, 5th, 7th, and 10th innings on YouTube.  But its a lot. 

I watched the bottom of the 10th the other day on the treadmill.  During the Marwin AB they mentioned that Jansen walked just 7 batters the entire regular season.  Then plunk, walk, hit and jubilation.


One of my favorite moments is a small thing: the smile on Altuve's face as he's standing on second looking into the dugout after doubling in Bregman to tie the game.  And Smoltz's commentary on the replay was perfect: "He's the best." 

[Jacksonian]

Agreed. I thought we were done with Kershaw pitching.

You and everyone else not in the dugout.

[JimR]

I'm not sure how many times I've watched the 4th, 5th, 7th, and 10th innings on YouTube.  But its a lot. 

I watched the bottom of the 10th the other day on the treadmill.  During the Marwin AB they mentioned that Jansen walked just 7 batters the entire regular season.  Then plunk, walk, hit and jubilation.


One of my favorite moments is a small thing: the smile on Altuve's face as he's standing on second looking into the dugout after doubling in Bregman to tie the game.  And Smoltz's commentary on the replay was perfect: "He's the best."

That put us ahead. Springer tied it.

Watch Altuve when he crosses the plate in the bottom of the 5th after the homer tying the game 7-7. He seems overwhelmed by what he has done. He and Correa do not do the exuberant hop-dance. Instead, Altuve ducks his head and rests it on Correa’s chest for a moment.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

That put us ahead. Springer tied it.

Watch Altuve when he crosses the plate in the bottom of the 5th after the homer tying the game 7-7. He seems overwhelmed by what he has done. He and Correa do not do the exuberant hop-dance. Instead, Altuve ducks his head and rests it on Correa’s chest for a moment.

Score that one an E on me.  Of course,  High flyball goodbye tied it.

Love that moment you mentioned.

2 things the MLB film caught: Correa's reaction to Yuli's bomb (Both arms straight up in the air immediately; the tv/ YouTube clip barely catches it) and Yuli's expression as he awaited the throw from Altuve in game 7.

What a treasure trove of sweet memories we have.

Heck,  the ALCS seems like it was played a decade before the WS.

[JimR]

El Arroyo sign posted on FB today, which I did not see at the time:

“Cannot wait to get home tonight and watch the World Series. Just like the Yankees.”

[roadrunner]

Buck's call of Altuve's homer is my favorite.  His tone is perfect.  His words says something else, but his tone is essentially saying "no fucking way is Altuve hitting a homer right now".

Actual words: "Flyball...left center field....at the wall(!) TIE GAME! UNBELIEVABLE"

Buck nailed almost every call except the series clincher, but even that's nitpicking.

Still working on my Astros shrine in the house.  An entire wall is being dedicated to images of Game 5.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

It's also worth remembering,  forever,  that the 5th inning rally started with 2 out,  nobody on.

Springer walk.
Bregman walk.
Maeda relieves Kershaw.
Then,  THE at-bat.  My single favorite moment.

[Waldo]

In a game full of top-of-the-mountain highlights, Springer’s first-pitch bomb is my favorite. He wasted no time obliterating the absolute shit out of that baseball.

[JimR]

Buck's call of Altuve's homer is my favorite.  His tone is perfect.  His words says something else, but his tone is essentially saying "no fucking way is Altuve hitting a homer right now".

Actual words: "Flyball...left center field....at the wall(!) TIE GAME! UNBELIEVABLE"

Buck nailed almost every call except the series clincher, but even that's nitpicking.

Still working on my Astros shrine in the house.  An entire wall is being dedicated to images of Game 5.

You need to invite us over to see it.

[JimR]

It's also worth remembering,  forever,  that the 5th inning rally started with 2 out,  nobody on.

Springer walk.
Bregman walk.
Maeda relieves Kershaw.
Then,  THE at-bat.  My single favorite moment.

They were not four pitch walks either. Both of them battled, and Springer had one ball four called a strike.

[toddthebod]

I have to tell you guys — it’s wonderful seeing such joy in everyone when we talk/write about last season and especially game 5.

I could get used to this.

[BudGirl]

Agreed. I thought we were done with Kershaw pitching.

I watched a clip of Bregman's hit in the 10th then an interview. He said the infelders stood behind keuchel in the fourth and said they were just going to play lose and enjoy the game. Then Springer got the walk and everything changed. I hadn't heard that interview before. Those men learned a lot in winning. Should be a great future for them and hopefully us.

[JimR]

I watched a clip of Bregman's hit in the 10th then an interview. He said the infelders stood behind keuchel in the fourth and said they were just going to play lose and enjoy the game. Then Springer got the walk and everything changed. I hadn't heard that interview before. Those men learned a lot in winning. Should be a great future for them and hopefully us.

That interview is one of my favorite things about the postseason. They were standing together while Keuchel left and Gregerson entered. That was the absolute most hopeless appearing moment in the game, and they were talking about how to turn it around.

[astrojo]

I have to tell you guys — it’s wonderful seeing such joy in everyone when we talk/write about last season and especially game 5.

I could get used to this.

Wholeheartedly agree! I get so emotional rewatching any of the series, but especially game 5. Knowing that each one of you was feeling my exact pain watching Kershaw dominate those first few innings, and the sheer elation as Yuli tied it, and Altuve tied it again. The disbelief as that ball got past Springer, then the triumph as he got that one back and the offense made Morrow their whipping boy. The absolute heartbreak watching as Giles struggled to make his pitches and the lead vanish again! But then the sweetest, the most glorious ending that could ever be, an Astros victory in the most exciting World Series game that ever was. I knew there would be no sleep that night,I was way too wound up. I simply had to watch every interview, celebrate every highlight, and read every damn tweet I could, then I watched the entire replay right then and there, dozing into the most perfectly  blissful sleep as the sun came up, dreaming the most beautiful dream that wasn’t a dream.

[chuck]

I always thought that moment between Altuve and Correa after Altuve had crossed the plate was a bit of being overwhelmed but also Altuve's taking a moment to impart something he saw in the at bat.

[JimR]

Wholeheartedly agree! I get so emotional rewatching any of the series, but especially game 5. Knowing that each one of you was feeling my exact pain watching Kershaw dominate those first few innings, and the sheer elation as Yuli tied it, and Altuve tied it again. The disbelief as that ball got past Springer, then the triumph as he got that one back and the offense made Morrow their whipping boy. The absolute heartbreak watching as Giles struggled to make his pitches and the lead vanish again! But then the sweetest, the most glorious ending that could ever be, an Astros victory in the most exciting World Series game that ever was. I knew there would be no sleep that night,I was way too wound up. I simply had to watch every interview, celebrate every highlight, and read every damn tweet I could, then I watched the entire replay right then and there, dozing into the most perfectly  blissful sleep as the sun came up, dreaming the most beautiful dream that wasn’t a dream.

This is one great post. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and emotions so eloquently. As I have posted before, Mark and I stayed overnight, then came back at 6 am for his job. He and I stayed up for about an hour doing what you did watching interviews and replays on our phones, then he went to sleep around 3. The lights were off, and I tried mightily, but there was no sleep for me that night. I remained too wired and excited and replayed the game in my head until time to start for Home-my first all-nighter.

PS One minor correction: Devo caused our angst and despair in the 9th and blew the seemingly-certain save, not Giles. His swoon was in the 1-1 9th in Game 4 and shelved him for the rest of the Series.

ETA: post more, jo. Don’t wait for the postseason.

[JimR]

I always thought that moment between Altuve and Correa after Altuve had crossed the plate was a bit of being overwhelmed but also Altuve's taking a moment to impart something he saw in the at bat.

Could be, dunno. It looked like pure emotion to me, but you could be right.

[JimR]

It's also worth remembering,  forever,  that the 5th inning rally started with 2 out,  nobody on.

Springer walk.
Bregman walk.
Maeda relieves Kershaw.
Then,  THE at-bat.  My single favorite moment.

I forgot this last night, but the game-winning rally in the 10th started the same way: Two out, bases empty, 0-2 on McCann. Then HBP, walk, walkoff single.

[Ty in Tampa]

Buck nailed almost every call except the series clincher, but even that's nitpicking.

Hating Buck and having him do the Series was a chore but I have to admit, he did a fine job. The problem with G7 B9 was that he and Smoltz were yammering about too many things leading up to the final out instead of letting the moment happen. That had a lot to do with it being in LA and the moment happening for the crowd was indigestion.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Hating Buck and having him do the Series was a chore but I have to admit, he did a fine job. The problem with G7 B9 was that he and Smoltz were yammering about too many things leading up to the final out instead of letting the moment happen. That had a lot to do with it being in LA and the moment happening for the crowd was indigestion.

I've never had a problem with Buck's calling the action as it is happening. I think he is good at that part. It's his personality and the yammering between the plays that makes him nearly unbearable to me. I totally agree they yammered when they should have let the picture tell the story.

[BudGirl]

I had tuned them out long before the last out.  I was a freaking mess.

[Waldo]

I have to tell you guys — it’s wonderful seeing such joy in everyone when we talk/write about last season and especially game 5.

I could get used to this.

Fuck you!

[Ty in Tampa]

I had tuned them out long before the last out.  I was a freaking mess.

Oh, me too. My critique is all based on re-watching the games. It was all a blur for me as it was happening.

[astrojo]

This is one great post. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and emotions so eloquently. As I have posted before, Mark and I stayed overnight, then came back at 6 am for his job. He and I stayed up for about an hour doing what you did watching interviews and replays on our phones, then he went to sleep around 3. The lights were off, and I tried mightily, but there was no sleep for me that night. I remained too wired and excited and replayed the game in my head until time to start for Home-my first all-nighter.

PS One minor correction: Devo caused our angst and despair in the 9th and blew the seemingly-certain save, not Giles. His swoon was in the 1-1 9th in Game 4 and shelved him for the rest of the Series.

ETA: post more, jo. Don’t wait for the postseason.

Thanks Jim. And you’re right, Giles was the night before. It was Devo that walked Bellinger ahead of Puig’s one handed backhand into the Crawford boxes before allowing the tying run to score.  Thanks to McCann’s insurance bomb the prior inning.

[The Spleen]

I'm laughing at the replay of the Correa HR... he mouths "fuck" right after the swing because he thinks he just missed it.

[NeilT]

I'm laughing at the replay of the Correa HR... he mouths "fuck" right after the swing because he thinks he just missed it.

You guys have inspired me.  Usually I try to read a baseball book to get ready for spring training.  This year I think I'll re-watch the World Series. 

[das]

You guys have inspired me.  Usually I try to read a baseball book to get ready for spring training.  This year I think I'll re-watch the World Series.

Me too.  For like the 10th time.

[juliogotay]

You guys have inspired me.  Usually I try to read a baseball book to get ready for spring training.  This year I think I'll re-watch the World Series.

Usually I try to read a baseball book to get ready for spring training.

I do the same. Haven't decided what to read this Spring. I've been reading Roger Angell for the last three springs. I was hoping someone would release a book about the season we just witnessed from the Astros perspective. Or, better yet, a book similar to Moneyball in which the author explores how the Luhnow plan worked out.

[Jacksonian]

Buck's call of Altuve's homer is my favorite.  His tone is perfect.  His words says something else, but his tone is essentially saying "no fucking way is Altuve hitting a homer right now".

Actual words: "Flyball...left center field....at the wall(!) TIE GAME! UNBELIEVABLE"

Buck nailed almost every call except the series clincher, but even that's nitpicking.

Still working on my Astros shrine in the house.  An entire wall is being dedicated to images of Game 5.

I'll add that that call is the most honest emotion I've ever heard from Buck.  His voiced cracked at "at the wall."  He truly could not believe what he was seeing.

Neither could I.

As an aside, Buck's had a heck of a recent post-season.  The ALCS, World Series, crazy finish to Saints/Vikings.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

I'm laughing at the replay of the Correa HR... he mouths "fuck" right after the swing because he thinks he just missed it.

Ha. Watched it hundreds of times,  missed it.

Statcast said Correa's homer wss the highest in all mlb that season. I think launch angle 52, exit velocity 109.

Watching it in the stadium, I couldn't believe how high it s for so long.

[BUWebguy]

Usually I try to read a baseball book to get ready for spring training.

I do the same. Haven't decided what to read this Spring. I've been reading Roger Angell for the last three springs. I was hoping someone would release a book about the season we just witnessed from the Astros perspective. Or, better yet, a book similar to Moneyball in which the author explores how the Luhnow plan worked out.

Anybody read Bill Brown's book on the 2017 season?

[juliogotay]

Anybody read Bill Brown's book on the 2017 season?

I didn't know of its' existence. Thanks for the post. Was Brown really around the club that much last year? I know he called a few games and did some photography from the field.

[austro]

You guys have inspired me.  Usually I try to read a baseball book to get ready for spring training.  This year I think I'll re-watch the World Series. 

A friend sent me "Last Days of Summer" by Steve Kluger as a Christmas gift. I read it in two days and thoroughly enjoyed it, I don't think it's still in print, but it's available on Kindle and you can find copies on eBay.

[roadrunner]

I'll add that that call is the most honest emotion I've ever heard from Buck.  His voiced cracked at "at the wall."  He truly could not believe what he was seeing.

Neither could I.

As an aside, Buck's had a heck of a recent post-season.  The ALCS, World Series, crazy finish to Saints/Vikings.

Not to mention the 2017 Super Bowl and 2016 World Series.

We have had a helluva run of sports championships recently.  Nova buzzer beater a couple of years ago and the last two CFB Championship games have been excellent.